In March 2018 Greenwood began acting as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions after Debbie Abrahams temporarily stepped aside.[5] She was appointed as a permanent replacement for Shadow DWP Secretary in May 2018.

Greenwood expressed concern over the effects of poverty and austerity, Greenwood said, “The government should listen to the people being pushed into poverty by its policies. Universal credit is failing miserably, leaving families in debt, [in] rent arrears and at risk of becoming homeless. Three million children are growing up in poverty despite living in a working household. “Labour will stop the roll-out of universal credit, end the benefit freeze and transform the social security system so that it supports people instead of punishing them.”[6] Greenwood notes that employment at poverty wages is rising, Greenwood said, “There is something seriously wrong when the number of people in work in poverty is increasing faster than employment.”[7]